Electronic camera with image display and selective inhibition of image signal storage

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses improvements in the camera having an image memory for storing still image information, such that when a still image is displayed on a monitor, actuation of a camera release is ignored; when meaningless still images of the image memory are prevented from appearing on the monitor; and further good manageability of the camera is assured when writing and reading the image information in and from the image memory.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/282,225, filedJul. 29, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,560; which is a continuation ofSer. No. 07/912,823, filed Jul. 13, 1992, abandoned, which is a divisionof Ser. No. 07/789,425, filed Nov. 4, 1991, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,833),which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/446,387, filed Dec. 5, 1989,abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/227,824, filed Aug. 3,1988, abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a camera having an image memory for storingstill image information.

2. Description of the Related Art

Techniques of introducing the image memory into the photographic camerahave already been known. Yet, some unfavorable have occurred as follows.

For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 62-9289discloses a camera of this kind in which, to shoot an object on actionby the solid state image pickup element, its moving image is displayedon a monitor. When a shutter switch is pushed down, a still image isstored in a semiconductor memory. And, what picture has been taken andstored can be reviewed by reproduction on the monitor.

However, such a conventional camera had a drawback in that, if theshutter switch or release button was pushed at a time during the displayof the preceding still image, because the next frame of an object to beshot was not monitored, the photographer failed to choose his desiredtarget area. This would result also in a disadvantage of puttingunnecessary still images into the memory.

Also in the conventional camera of this-kind, each time a shot wastaken, it was at a consecutive address to the last used one in the imagememory that its still image information was stored. To read the imageinformation out of the image memory, a similar way was adopted in theaddress sequencing. Hence, no particular measure was taken for controlon the address sequencing in reading after the address for the "oldest"(or "newest") shot image has been reached.

As a result, when reading the memory reproduction circulated from the"oldest" shot abruptly to the "newest" one, or vice versa. Thus, theorder in which the images had been shot became uncertain.

Further, the use of such a control by successive increments ordecrements of all the addresses in reading the image information fromthe image memory led to allow even those storage areas which were notyet used for shooting to be accessed. Thus, still another drawback wasseen in that the blank frames of no meaning were displayed.

It is also known to provide a conventional camera of this kindconstructed by inserting a half mirror into the photographic opticalsystem for the silver halide camera. The object image bearing beam issplit off by the half mirror into two parts, one of which is directed tothe solid state image pickup element. Hence, the same object image isrecorded not only on the photographic film but on a semiconductor memoryor like image memory device. And, after the recording is complete, thestill image in the memory can be reproduced on the display. Yet, evenafter the camera is reloaded with new film, those still images whichwere recorded along with the old roll of film eventually find theirreproduction on display. Therefore, this camera had a problem that itbecame uncertain that the reproduced image in question might be assignedto one or the other of the old and new rolls of film.

Another example of the conventional camera of this kind is disclosed inJapanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 57-78281, where when therelease button is half pushed down for the first time, a moving image isdisplayed; when half pushed down for the second time, a still image isdisplayed; when half pushed down, the image memory gives off a storedimage on the display; as long as an access button is pushed down, allthe stored images in the memory are successively displayed; and when therelease button is fully pushed down, the stored image under display isreplaced by a new one. Since selection of the modes thus relied onrecycling of depression of the release button to the half stroke, afterthe release button had once been pushed to the half stroke, thepreceding viewed image continued being displayed until the button wasfurther pushed to the full stroke, whereby much electrical energy wasconsumed. Another problem was that what mode is selectively set by howmany times the release button has been pushed to the half stroke wasvery difficult for the user to foresee.

Also, in the conventional camera of this kind, for control of the zoomratio of the motorized zoom lens, there is a wide-angle/telephotoselection switch dedicated solely to this purpose. Meanwhile, apart fromthis, another selection switch was provided for reading the informationof one of the exposed images out of the image memory to display it.Hence the manual actuators on the camera housing became many in number.This involved errors in manipulation and eroded good manageability. Evenfor the designer, it provided layout difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a camera havingbroadened capability of preventing an object image from being put intothe internal memory by actuation of a shutter release at a time duringthe display of a still image.

To achieve such an object, according to the invention, the camera isprovided with display means for selectively displaying a moving imagebeing captured on the image pickup element and the already picked andrecorded still image, and discriminating means responsive topresentation of the still image on the display means for renderingineffective actuation of a camera release.

With this feature, only when the camera is set so that a moving imageformed on the image pickup element is displayed, in other words, themonitor functions as a viewfinder, a still image is permitted to berecorded in response to pushing down of the release button. When in astill picture display mode, even if the release button is pushed down,the request for actuation of a camera release is ignored.

These and other objects and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the entirety of an embodiment ofa camera according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera of FIG. 1 with thearrangements of control buttons on the housing thereof.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of shift between the status words representing theconditions the operations of the embodiment can take.

FIG. 4 is a table for the conditions corresponding to the status wordsof FIG. 3 under which the memory acts in read and write modes along withthe display therefor.

FIGS. 5 to 20 are flowcharts illustrating in great detail the deviceactions that reset the status bits.

FIG. 21 is a table for the relationship between the frame counter andthe recall memory.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention is next described in greater detail in connection with anembodiment thereof.

FIG. 1 shows in block diagram the arrangement of all devices of apractical example of the still camera equipped with an electronicimaging device, to which the invention is applied. The outer appearanceof this camera is partly shown in FIG. 2.

In these two figures, image pickup means 2 including a CCD (chargecoupled device) receives an equivalent image of the same object to thatformed on photographic film by a motor driven zoom lens 30.

A signal processing circuit 4 treats an image signal obtained from theCCD to match a certain signal level and a signal form.

An A/D (analog-to-digital) converter 6 produces a digital signal for onepicture plane (one frame or one field) in each predetermined clock.

A moving image memory 8 has a storage capacity of one picture plane. Theimage data produced from the A/D converter 6 are written in the memory 8in response to a clock of a predetermined period. In the followingdescription, the content of the moving image memory 8 will be given byan expression "MM".

A recall memory 10 has a storage capacity of 24 picture planes. Theexpression of the content of the recall memory 10 is generalized by"M(i)". That is, the recall memory 10 can store, in correspondence toits addresses i=1 to i=24, the data of 1st to 24th picture planes, orM(1) to M(24) respectively.

A special memory 12 has a storage capacity of four picture planes. Theexpression of the content of the special memory 12 is generalized by"M'(j)". In correspondence to its addresses j=1 to 4, the image dataM'(1)-M'(4) are stored respectively.

A D/A converter 14 receives the data of one image plane read out ofeither one of the moving image, recall and special memories 8, 10 and 12and produces a corresponding analog signal.

A display drive circuit 16 receives the analog output from the D/Aconverter 14 and converts it to a signal for driving an image displaydevice 18.

The image display device 18 comprises a 2-dimensional array of liquidcrystal display elements (LCDs) and can display an image in one pictureplane. Therefore, when the write-and-read operation of the moving imagememory 8 is being recycled, the image on the CCD is transferred to bedisplayed on the device 18. But when the information of that image isprohibited from being written in the memory 8, (that is, when thewriting is frozen,) the memory 8 provides the data of a still image.Hence, the image display device 18 presents a stationary display of thatimage. Likewise, the image data in the recall memory 10 or the specialmemory 12 when being read provides only a still image on the display.

A camera body 20 whose outer appearance is shown in FIG. 2 has the motordriven zoom lens 30 associated with a photographic optical system (notshown) for film exposure, and is provided with many control buttons andswitches as follows:

(i) A release button REL:

This button is used for driving the optical system to make an exposure.When pushed down to a first stroke, it closes a first switch SW1. Uponfurther depression to a second stroke, a second switch SW2 is closed.

(ii) A special button SPC:

In each of the cases: (a) when the release button REL is not pusheddown; (b) when the first switch SW1 is closed; and (c) when the secondswitch SW2 is closed, by pushing down the special button SPC, writing inthe special memory 12, or reading with display from the memory 12 iscarried out. This is more fully described later.

(iii) A recall button RCL:

Similarly to the special button SPC, depending on the pushed state ofthe release button REL, this button gives write/read commands to therecall memory 10.

(iv) An up button UP:

Each time this button is pushed down, the effective address i or j ofthe recall or special memory 10 or 12 is incremented by 1 in a range ofi=1 to 24, or j=1 to 4. After i=24 has been reached, when the up buttonUP is once more pushed down, i=0 results. With a stop switch STP to bedescribed later in ON state, however, this depression of the up buttonUP is ignored. (See FIG. 12)

Likewise, the address of the special memory 12 can transit from j=4 toj=1 in response to depression of the up button UP.

This up button UP also serves as a switch for zooming the lens 30 towardthe telephoto end, when the image display device 18 operates in themoving image display mode.

(v) A down button DWN:

Each time this button is pushed down, the address i or j of the recallor special memory 10 or 12 is decremented by 1 in the range of i=1 to24, or j=1 to 4. After i=1, another depression of the down button DWNresults in i=24, provided the stop switch STP is in OFF state. (See FIG.11)

Likewise, after j=1, another depression of the down button DWN resultsin j=4.

This down button DWN also serves as a Wide Angle switch for the zoomlens 30 when in the moving image display mode.

(vi) A stop switch STP:

When images stored in the recall memory 10 which is selected to operateby pushing the recall button RCL are successively presented on the imagedisplay device 18 by recycling the depression of the up button UP ordown button DWN, the rolling of the displayed image is either permittedor prohibited, depending on the switched position of this stop switchSTP as a mode selector. Its details will be described in connection withFIGS. 11 and 12.

(vii) A switch AL:

This switch is mounted on the inside of a back cover (not shown) of thecamera body 20. When a new film cartridge is loaded into the camera body20, the switch AL produces an output signal representing such loading,as will be more fully described later in connection with FIG. 5.

(viii) A switch FILM:

This is a switch for detecting whether or not the auto-loading of silverhalide film is complete, or whether or not any more fresh film frame canbe fed to the exposure aperture, as will be more fully described laterin connection with FIG. 5.

22 (FIG. 1) is a sequence controller for all the operations of thisembodiment. Included in this sequence controller 22 are not only a ROMstoring the instructions to be executed (which will be described indetail by reference to FIG. 3 and those that follow,) but also fourregisters i, j, I, J as a work memory, a frame counter FC for countingthe number of exposed frames of silver halide film and another framecounter F(i) for counting the corresponding number of the shot frame tothe i-th address of the recall memory 10.

A memory controller 24 (FIG. 1) controls the write/read operation of themoving image, recall and special memories 8, 10 and 12, as will betotally described by reference to FIG. 4.

A counter display device 26 (FIG. 1) selectively displays the countedvalues of the frame counters FC and F(i). To make discrimination betweenthem, when displaying the number of frames which the frame counter F(i)has counted, a mark "RCL" appears together with that number, letting theuser know that the recall memory 10 operates the frame counter F(i).

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the paths of status shift representing all thechanges of the conditions this embodiment can take. In this diagram,"ST" stands for status, and has any word of "0" to "15". A shift labeled"RECALL" occurs when the recall button RCL is depressed; "RECALL" forthe release of the recall button RCL from the depression; "SPECIAL" fordepression of the special button SPC; "SPECIAL" for release of thespecial button SPC from the depression; "UP" for depression of the upbutton UP; "UP" for release of the up button UP from the depression;"DOWN" for depression of the down button DWN; "DOWN" for release of thedown button DWN from the depression; "SW1" for depression of the releasebutton REL to the first stroke; "SW1" for release of the release buttonREL from the depression to the first stroke; "SW2" for furtherdepression of the release button REL up to the second stroke; "SW1+SW2"for release of the release button REL from all the depression; and "AEEND" for completion of an exposure.

FIG. 4 lists the functions of the status words ST 0 to ST 15 and what towrite in or read from the memories.

In this table, what is to be read from the memory is shown in a column"RE" (for Read Enable), where "MM" means an instruction of reading thestored image data from the moving image memory 8; "M(i)" from the i-thaddress of the recall memory 10; "M'(j)" from the j-th address of thespecial memory 12.

Also, what is to be written in the memory is shown in a column "WE" (forWrite Enable), where "MM" means an instruction of storing the data of animage picked up by the CCD into the moving image memory 8; "M(i)" aninstruction of reading the image data MM from the moving image memory 8and storing them at the i-th address of the recall memory 10; and"M'(j)" an instruction of reading either the image data MM from themoving image memory 8 or the image data M(i) from the recall memory 10and storing them into the j-th address of the special memory 12.

Next, by reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the status words ST 0through ST 15 is briefly described.

At first, for the camera is left idle, in other words, the operator doesnot yet manipulate any of the portions of the camera, for example, therelease button REL, this condition represents a status ST 0 whichinforms the sequence controller 22 only to display the content of thecounter FC representing the silver halide film frame number on thecounter display device 26, (see FIG. 1), while the image display device18 has nothing displayed.

With the camera in this status ST 0, when the special button SPC ispushed down, a shift to a status ST 10 occurs.

The status ST 10 informs the sequence controller 22 to perform readingof the image data M'(j) from the special memory 12 so that a still imageof the j-th address appears on the image display device 18. If, at thistime, the up button UP is pushed down, a shift to a status ST 12 occurs.

In the status ST 12, the effective address j of the special memory 12 isincremented, and the corresponding still image to the (j+1)th address isdisplayed.

If, in the status ST 10, the down button DWN is pushed down, the statusshifts to ST 11, whereby the effective address j of the special memory12 is decremented to display the corresponding still image to the(j-1)th address.

The above-described status ST 10, ST 11 and ST 12, as is apparent fromnothing described in "WE" column of FIG. 4 at these rows, memoriesoperate do not for writing at all.

Returning to the idle condition of the camera, when the recall buttonRCL is pushed down, the status shifts from ST 0 to ST 6.

The status ST 6 informs the controller 22 to send the content M(i) ofthe recall memory 10 to the image display device 18. Simultaneously sentto the counter display device 26 is the corresponding number of the shotframe to the address of the recall memory 10 at which the image of thatframe was stored in combination with "RCL" indicating that the number isa recall memory number of the recall memory 10. (See FIG. 4)

From this status ST 6, by pushing down the up button UP or down buttonDWN, shift occurs to a status ST 8 or ST 7 respectively. Thus, thedisplayed content M(i) of the recall memory 10 can be alteredselectively. It should be noted that when the stop switch STP is in ONposition, there are occasions of prohibiting rolling of the displayedimages.

With the camera left not shooting, as the content M(i) of the recallmemory 10 is displayed at the image display device 18 by the status ST6, when the special button SPC is pushed down, a shift to a status ST 9occurs.

In the status ST 9, the image data are read from the i-th address of therecall memory 10, and stored in the j-th address of the special memory12. Because this does not change the image data to be inputted to theD/A converter 14, the image on the image display device 18 remainsunchanged.

Next explanation is given to a case where the release button REL ispushed to the first stroke, whereby the first switch SW1 (see FIG. 1) isclosed.

When the first switch SW1 is closed, a status ST 1 occurs informing thecontroller 22 to repeat the cycle of writing in and reading from themoving image memory 10. Therefore, a moving image formed on the CCDreveals itself on the display 18, while the content of the counter FC,or the film frame number, is shown on the counter display device 26.

If the status ST 1 is combined with depression of the recall button RCL,then a shift to a status ST 13 occurs.

The status ST 13 stops the writing in the moving image memory 8, whilepermitting only the reading therefrom. Hence, the content of movingimage memory 8 is frozen. Thus, the image display device 18 presents astill image that is taken at the time when the recall button RCL ispushed down. In such a way, by pushing down the recall button RCL, itbecomes possible to monitor how to conduct shooting. It should be notedhere that this status ST 13 have the recall memory 13 is not set forwriting, allowing such monitoring alone to take place.

If the status ST 1 is otherwise combined with depression of the specialbutton SPC, then a shift to a status ST 14 occurs.

In response to the status ST 14, the memory controller 24 prohibitswriting to the moving image memory 8, but permits only readingtherefrom. So, a still image MM obtained by shooting the moving image atthe moment when the special button SPC has been pushed down is displayedat the image display device 18. And, when the special button SPC isreleased from the depression, the same still image MM as that on thedisplay is brought into storage in the special memory 12. In short, itis under the condition of the status ST 14 that the depression of thespecial button SPC changes a display from the moving image display mode(status ST 1) to the still image display mode, and the release from thedepression effects the result of storing that still image in the specialmemory 12.

If, in the status ST 14, the up button UP or down button DWN is pusheddown for the first time, a shift to a status ST 5 occurs.

Upon shift to the status ST 5, the reading from the special memory 12 isinitiated. Thus, the image on the image display device 18 is changedover from a still image MM frozen in the moving image memory 8 to imagedata M'(j) stored in the special memory 12. When the up button UP or thedown button DWN is pushed down for the second time, the next imageM'(j+1) or M'(j-1) appears on the image display device 18, and so on.This allows the user to choose an address j in which theabove-identified still image MM is to be stored. After the correspondingimage to that address j has appeared on the image display device 18, theuser can remove his finger from the special button SPC, whereupon thecamera returns past the status ST 14 to the status ST 0 (moving imagedisplay mode).

When in the status ST 1, further depression of the release button REL tothe second stroke closes the second switch SW2, initiating an exposurewith a shift to a status ST 2. At the termination of the exposure, afurther shift to a status ST 3 occurs.

The status ST 3 informs the memory controller 24 to prohibit writing inthe moving image memory 8 to effect freezing and perform readingtherefrom. Thereby an object image (still image) is displayed on theimage display device 18. Further, writing in the recall memory 10 iscarried out. Therefore, the frozen object image is stored in the recallmemory 10.

The status ST 3 when combined with depression of the special button SPCshifts to a status ST 15.

In the status ST 15, the recorded image M(i) of the recall memory 10stored by the status ST 3 is read and stored also in the special memory12. Hence the same image as the image MM frozen in the status ST 3 isstored in both of the recall memory 10 and the special memory 12.

In the status ST 3, when the depression of the release button REL isfully released, a shift to a status ST 4 occurs, where the film is woundup or rewound. Then the status ST 0 returns.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 21, each of the above-described status ST 0through ST 15 is described in detail below.

ST 0 (Idle condition: FIG. 5)

At first, a step S2 displays the content of the frame counter FC on thecounter display device 26. Then, a step S4 tests the first switch SW1 ofthe release button REL. If on (Yes), then advance is to the status ST 1for transferring a moving image taken by the image pickup means 2 to theimage display device 18. If off (No), then advance is to a step S6.

The step S6 determines whether or not the special button SPC is pusheddown to send the j-th still image in the special memory 12 to the imagedisplay device 18. If so, then advance is to a step S14 where the valueof a register j (which corresponds to the number representing where thelast recorded still image lies within the special memory 12) is storedin a register J, thus setting the status ST 10 (for reproduction of theimage of the special memory 12). It should be noted here that by makingJ=j, the operator is enabled to know what is the number of the addressin which the latest still image has been recorded when the content ofthe register J is consulted. Meanwhile, if the special button SPC isdetermined in the step S6 not to be pushed down, then advance is to astep S8. The step S8 tests the switch AL. This switch AL changes fromOFF to ON, only when a silver halide film cartridge is loaded into thecamera body 20. If the change from OFF to ON has occurred, then advanceis to a step S16 where the register i representing the number of thataddress of the recall memory 10 which was last used for recording withthe preceding film cartridge is set to 0, and at the same time the framecounter FC is set to 1. A step S10 will follow. Before embarking on thestep S10, it is to be noted here that by making i=0 at the time of theloading of the silver halide film cartridge, the recall memory 10 isvirtually cleared. Even if the previous still images remain recorded inthe recall memory 10, these recorded images are regarded as nullities.(That is, they cannot be displayed on the image display device 18.)Since the frame counter FC has been set to 1, the counter display device26 shows 1 as the frame number when in the step S2 or others. Meanwhile,if the switch AL is determined in the step S8 to remain OFF, as itimplies that the camera is not loaded any silver halide film cartridge,then advance to the step S10.

The step S10 determines whether or not the register i is 0. If so (thatis, the switch AL is OFF), as it implies that the recall memory 12 hasvirtually been cleared, then return is to the step S2 without having toreproduce the remaining images of the recall memory 10. Meanwhile, ifnot 0, then advance is to a step S12. (In the case that the register iis not 0, despite the lack of the silver halide film cartridge in thecamera body 20, images can be recorded in the recall memory 10 orothers.) The step S12 tests the recall button RCL. If it is not pusheddown, then return is to the step S2. Otherwise, advance is to a stepS18, where the value of the register i is stored in the register I. Thiswill set the status ST 6 for reproduction of the images of the recallmemory 10. It is to be noted here that the content of the register irepresents what number of that address of the recall memory 10 was usedfor recording of the latest still image. By means of I=i, regardless ofthe up/down shift of the effective address for reproduction of theimages in the recall memory 10 from the number (i) when in the status ST6, or ST 13, it is assured that the photographer can later know thenumber of that address which was used for recording the latest image inthe recall memory 10.

ST 1 (Moving Image display; Successive renewal: FIG. 6)

The procedure of the flowchart of FIG. 6 begins with a start labeled ST1 which indicates the closure of the first switch SW1 in the step S4 ofthe flowchart for the status ST 0. At first, a step S20 sends a shotimage (moving image) MM from the image pickup means 2 to, and writes itin, the moving image memory 8, and, at the same time, reads the recordedimage (moving image) MM within the moving image memory 8 to make adisplay on the image display device 18, and further at the same timedisplays the value of the frame counter FC on the counter display device26. It should be noted that the writing in and reading (displaying) fromthe moving image memory 8 repeat until a shift to another status.

The next step S22 tests the first switch SW1 of the release button REL.If not ON, then return is to the status ST 0. If ON, then advance is toa step S24 for testing the second switch SW2. If the second switch SW2is ON, as it implies that the shutter in the camera body 20 has beenreleased, then the register i is incremented by 1 (step S38,) thussetting up the status ST 2 during the releasing of the shutter. Here, bymaking a change from i to i+1, the recall memory 10 is prepared forrecording a new still image. Meanwhile, if the second switch SW2 isdetermined in the step S24 not to be ON, then advance is to a step S26for testing the recall button RCL. If the recall button RCL is indepression, this sets up the status ST 13 for displaying the still imageMM from the moving image memory 8. Otherwise, advance is to a step S28.

The step S28 tests the special button SPC. If in depression, then theregister j is increments by 1 (step S40), thus setting up the status ST14 for recording the image in motion on the image display device 18 as astill image at that storage area of the special memory 12 which has sofar been prepared for re-recording.

Meanwhile, if, in the step S28, the special button SPC is not pusheddown, as it implies that the image in motion on the display 18 is not tobe recorded in the recall memory 10 and the special memory 12, thenadvance in to a process for driving the zoom lens 30 of the camera body20 with selection of the TELE and WIDE directions. That is, when the upbutton UP is pushed down, a loop (of Steps: S30→S32) is encountered. Solong as it is pushed, the zoom lens 30 is driven to the telephoto side.Instead, depression of the down button DWN encounters another loop (ofSteps: S34→S36.) During pushing, the zoom lens 30 is driven toward thewide angle end. If the up button UP and the down button DWN are notpushed down, then return is to the step S20.

ST 2 (Camera release in progress, Shutter in open state: FIG. 7)

The procedure begins with a start labeled ST 2 which indicates that inthe status ST 1 the second switch SW2 turns on (through the step S38).At first, a step S44 displays the content of the frame counter FC on thecounter display device 26 (which represents the number of a silverhalide film frame which is exposed in progress). The next step S46 waitsfor a signal AE END representing the end of the release from the camerabody 20. Upon advent of the signal, the value in the frame counter FCwhich specifies a record number (i) for the recall memory 10 at whichthe image in the moving image memory 8 is to be stored, is brought intostorage in the recall memory counter F(i), thus setting up the status ST3 for, after the completion of the exposure, displaying the image takenby now and recording that image in the recall memory 10.

ST 3 (Record a still image in the recall memory 10: FIG. 8)

The procedure starts from the end of the status ST 2. A first step S50stops writing in the moving image memory 8, while permitting continuityof only the reading from the same memory 8. Therefore, what is to berecorded in the moving image memory 8 is a still image which has beentransferred from the images formed on the image pickup means 2 at themoment when the camera release ended. Also, in the step S50, the stillimage on the moving image memory 8 is transferred to and recorded in thei-th storage area of the recall memory 10. Further, the value of theframe counter FC is displayed on the counter display device 26.

The next step S52 tests the special button SPC. If in depression, thenthe register j is incremented by 1 (Step S62,) thus setting up thestatus ST 15 for reading the still image from the moving image memory 8and recording it in the special memory 12. Here, the change from j toj+1 is made for the purpose of preparing the special memory 12 to recorda new image. Meanwhile, if, in the step S52, the special button SPC isdetermined not to be pushed, then advance is to steps S54 and S56 wherethe first and second switches SW1 and SW2 of the release button REL aretested. If both switches are ON, as this implies that the status ST 1,ST 2 sequencing still continues because the release button REL remainsdepressed even after the end of the release of the camera body 20, thenthe turn-off of both switches SW1 and SW2 is awaited.

If both switches SW1 and SW2 turn off, then the switch FILM is tested tosee if another fresh frame is available from the loaded silver halidefilm in the camera body 20 in a step S58. If ON, then set a flag FILMLfor use in determining whether or not to advance the frame counter FC(step S64,) thus setting up the status ST 4 for winding up or rewinding.Otherwise, the flag FILML is reset (step S60), and then advance is tothe status ST 4.

ST 4 (Wind-up; Rewind: FIG. 9)

The procedure starts from the end of the status ST 3. A first step S66displays the value of the frame counter FC on the counter display device26. A second step S68 determines whether or not a signal representingthe completion of the winding operation has come from the camera body20. If not, as it implies that the silver halide film in the camera body20 has all been exposed, then advance is to a step S72 for detecting thecompletion of a rewinding operation. Otherwise, advance is to a stepS70.

The step S72 waits for a signal representing that the rewinding iscomplete from the camera body 20. Upon advent of the signal, a step isexecuted to clear the frame counter FC. Then return is to the status ST0. The step S70, on the other hand, tests the flag FILML. If it is set,as this implies that a fresh frame of the silver halide film is set inthe exposure aperture of the camera body 20, then a step S74 executed toincrement the frame counter FC by 1. Then return is to the status ST 0.If the step S70 detects the resetting of the flag FILML, as this impliesthat the silver halide film is not set in the camera body 20, thenreturn is to the status ST 0 without any further action.

ST 6 (Reproduction of image from the recall memory 10: FIG. 10)

This is to read the i-th still image from the recall memory 10 to make adisplay on the image display device 18. The start indicates that in thestatus ST 0 the recall button RCL was pushed down (and the step S18 wasexecuted).

A first step S80 reads the i-th still image M(i) from the recall memory10 to make a display on the image display device 18, and displays thecorresponding number of the shot frame to that address of the recallmemory 10 which has recorded the read image, or the value of the framecounter F(i), on the display device 26. Further presented on the counterdisplay device 26 is the mark "RCL" representing that the content of therecall memory 10 is being presented on the image display device 18.

A second step S82 tests the recall button RCL. If not in depression,that is, as the photographer has removed his finger from the recallbutton RCL pushed in the status ST 0, then a step S90 is executed tochange the value of the register i back to a value equal to the value ofthe register I which represents the latest record number of the recallmemory 10. Then return is to the status ST 0. If the step S82 detectsthat the recall button RCL remains pushed down, then advance is to astep S84.

The step S84 tests the special button SPC. If in depression, then theregister j by is incremented 1 in a step S92, thus setting up the statusST 9. Here, the change from j to j+1 is made to prepare for recording ofa new still image in the special memory 12, since the special button SPChas been pushed down. Otherwise, advance is to a step S86 for testingthe down button DWN. If in depression, then the register i isdecremented by 1 in a step S87, thus setting up the status ST 7 fordisplaying the image read from the recall memory 10 in a down mode,(that is, the one of the images in the recall memory 10 which is to bepresented on the image display device 18 is selected in the order ofprogressively smaller numbers of the number i). Otherwise, advance to astep S88.

The step S88 tests the up button UP. If in depression, then the registeri is incremented in a step S89, thus setting up the status ST 8 fordisplaying the images in the recall memory 10 in an up mode, that is,the one of the images in the recall memory 10 which is to be displayedis selected in the order of gradually larger numbers of the number i.Otherwise, return is to the step S80.

ST 7 (Down display mode for the recall memory 10: FIG. 11)

The procedure begins with a start which indicates that in the status ST6 the down button DWN has been pushed down. A first step S100 reads thei-th still image M(i) of the recall memory 10 to make a display on theimage display device 18, and presents the value of the recall memorycounter F(i) and the mark "RCL" to the counter display device 26. Asecond step S102 examines whether the value of the frame counter FC isless than 25 to see if a larger number of frames of the silver halidefilm than the record capacity "24" of the recall memory 10 have beenexposed.

If the value of the frame counter FC is determined in the step S102 tobe less than 25 (or the number of exposed frames of the silver halidefilm falls within the record capacity of the recall memory 10), thenadvance is to a step S104 for determining whether the value of theregister i is 1. If so, then advance is to a step S106. Otherwise,advance is to a step S114.

The step S106 tests the stop switch STP. If ON, then advance is to astep S120. If OFF, then a step S112 is executed to fetch the value ofthe register I to the register i (which value represents the number ofthe that area of the recall memory 10 which was last recorded). Thenadvance is to a step S120. The step S114 decrements the register i by 1.Then advance is to the step S120.

Meanwhile, if the value of the frame counter FC is determined in thestep S102 to be 25 or more (in excess of the record capacity of therecall memory 10, or if the number of exposed frames of the silverhalide film is larger than 24), then advance is to a step S108 forexamining whether or not the value of the register i minus one is equalto the value of the register I. For example, as a series of continuousreleases have been actuated, when the 26th frame of the silver halidefilm is exposed, the value of the frame counter FC takes a value of 27and the value of the register I is 2. Suppose the execution of the stepS108 results in i-1=I, that is, the down button DWN continues beingpushed down for so long a time that the sequencing of presentation ofthe recorded still images in the recall memory 10 to the image displaydevice 18 (with decreasing values of the number i) reaches a number justbefore the number (I) of the oldest recorded still image in the recallmemory 10. So, advance is to a step S110 for testing the stop switchSTOP. If ON, then advance is directly to the step S120, thus prohibitingpresentation of the still images of even smaller record numbers in therecall memory 10 to the image display device 18, (as will be more fullydescribed later). If in the step S110 the stop switch STOP is OFF, theabove-described prohibition does not work. Then the register i isdecremented by 1 in a step S116. Then advance is to the step S120.

In the step S108, if "i-1" is not equal to I, the number of the recordedstill image on the display of the recall memory 10 does not yet reachthe number just before the number (I) of the oldest recorded still imagein the recall memory 10. Then advance is to a step S118 where theregister i is decremented by one. Then advance is to the step S120.

The step S120 tests the down button DWN. If not in depression, thenreturn is to the status ST 6. Otherwise, advance is to a step S122. Aprocess comprising the step S122 to a step S128 defines a timing ofpresentation in the down display mode of the recorded still images inthe recall memory 10 to the image display device 18. That is, the stepS122 checks whether a flag 2SL is set, since this flag is set at thepoint in time of elapse of 2 sec. from the start of the status ST 7. Ifnot, then 2 sec. is awaited from the start of the status ST 7 in a stepS126. In response to the elapse of 2 sec., the step S128 sets the flag2SL. Then return is to the step S100. If the flag 2SL is determined inthe step S122 to be set, then advance is to the step S124 for waitingfor a signal occurring in time spaces of 0.5 sec. from the start of thestatus ST 7. If it arrives, then return is to the step S100.

The above-described procedure of the status ST 7 is next explained,taking a practical example by reference also to FIG. 21. Assuming thatthe camera has shot continuous 27 frames of one and the same silverhalide film, (in other words, the status ST 0→ST 1→ST 2→ST 3→ST 4→ST 0sequencing repeats 27 times). At this time, i=3, I=3, FC=28. Then therecall button RCL is pushed down (ST 6), and the down button DWN ispushed down, (the pushing is assumed to continue), starting the statusST 7. At first, the step S100 displays the second recorded still imageof the recall memory 10 on the image display device 18. Then advance isto the step S102. Since the check of FC<25 results in "NO", then advanceis to the step S108. Since, here, i-1=1 and I=3, then advance is to thestep S118 where the register i is set to 1. Then advance is to the stepS120. Since the down button DWN continues being pushed, when 2 sec. haspassed from the start of the status ST 7, the first step S100 isregained. So, the first recorded still image of the recall memory 10 ispresented to the image display device 18. Then the flow passes throughthe step S102 to the step S108. Since in the step S108, i-1=24 and I=3are found, the step S118 sets the register i to 24. By now, the stepsS120, S122 and S124 are passed before the step S100 is regained. Such aprocedure repeats. Again, on the image display device 18, at the time ofstart of the status ST 7, of the recorded still images of the recallmemory 10, the second one (i=2) is presented. At the termination ofduration of 2 sec. from the start of the status ST 7, the first one(i=1) is presented. After that, each time 0.5 sec. has passed, the 24th(i=24), the 23rd (i=23), the 22nd (i=22) . . . are displayed in the downmode. And, when i-1=I is established as detected in the step S108, orwhen i=4 is reached, (at this time, the image display device 18 presentsthe fourth recorded still image of the recall memory 10: Hence onerotation of all the images of the recall memory 10 is just complete),advance to the step S110 occurs. If the stop switch STP is in ON state,the recorded still images of the recall memory 10 are prohibited fromrolling on the display. Then advance is directly to the step S120. Afterthat, the process of the steps S122, S124, S100, S102, S108, S110 andS120 only repeats, while the rolling display is prohibited. If the stepS110 detects that the stop switch STP is off, the rolling display isallowed. So, a branch to the step S116 is made. After the register i isdecremented to i=3, then advance is to the step S120. Thus, the downdisplay mode continues to operate. In the "Yes" case of the check: FC<25by the step S102, the step S104 follows. The subsequent procedure is forthe case that the number of exposed frames of the silver halide film is24 or below, and is similar in operational principle to that describedabove. (It should be noted that the condition for the prohibition of therolling display (S104) is that the record number of the recall memory 10should be 1, or the earliest shot image). Therefore, a more concreteexplanation is omitted here.

ST 8 (Up display mode for the recall memory 10: FIG. 12)

The status ST 8 starts from the depression of the up button UP in thestatus ST 6. The flowchart for the status ST 8 is similar to that forthe status ST 7. That is, whether or not the number of exposed frames ofthe silver halide film is larger than "24" or the record capacity of therecall memory 10 has been checked. At the time of start of the status ST8, the image of the number (i) plus one of the recall memory 10 isdisplayed. Then, in 2 sec. from the start, and then each time 0.5 sec.passes, the presentation of the images is recycled in the order of everincreasing record numbers of the recall memory 10. The condition forprohibition of the rolling display is similar to that for the status ST7.

A first step S130 reads the i-th still image from the recall memory 10to the image display device 18, and displays the value of the recallmemory counter F(i) and the mark "RCL" on the counter display device 26.A second step S132 examines whether the value of the frame counter FC isless than 25.

If so, (or where the number of exposed frame of the silver halide filmfalls within the record capacity of the recall memory 10,) then advanceto a step S134, where whether the value of the register i is equal tothe value of the register I is determined. If so, then advance is to astep S136. Otherwise, advance is to a step S144. That is, if not equal,then the steps S144 to S148 are executed to increase the record numberone by one, while the image of the corresponding number is displayed,until the number becomes equal to the value of the register I.

The step S136 tests the stop switch STP. If ON, then advance is to thestep S148. If OFF, then "1" is set in the register i in a step S142,since the images of the recall memory 10 have been displayed up to thelast record number, the representation then returns to the earliestrecord number or 1. Then advance is to a step S148.

If the step S132 detects that the value of the frame counter FC is 25 ormore, (or the number of exposed frames is larger than the recordcapacity of the recall memory 10, or "24"), then advance is to a stepS138, where whether the value of the register i is equal to the value ofthe register I is determined. If not, (S146 to S148): Because thepresentation of the image of the recall memory 10 to the display doesnot reach the last record number, until it is reached, the record numberis increased one by one, while the corresponding image is displayed.And, when i=I becomes, then advance is to a step S140 for testing thestop switch STP. If ON, then advance is directly to a step S148. Thus,the still images of greater record numbers (i) than that in the recallmemory 10 are prohibited from being presented to the image displaydevice 18. Meanwhile, if the stop switch STP is determined in the stepS140 to be off, such a prohibition does not apply. Then, a step S146increments the register i by 1. Then advance is to a step S148.

The step S148 tests the up button UP. The subsequent process of stepsS150, S152, S154 and S156 is similar to that of the steps S122, S124,S126 and S128 in the status ST 7. So, its explanation is omitted.

ST 9 (Transfer the recorded images from the recall memory 10 to thespecial memory 12: FIG. 13)

The procedure starts when the special button SPC is pushed down in thestatus ST 6 (and through the step S90). A first step S160 reads the i-threcorded image from the recall memory 10 to make a display on the imagedisplay device 18, and writes it in the j-th area of the special memory12.

A second step S162 waits for removal of the operator's finger from thespecial button SPC. Then advance is to the status ST 6.

ST 10 (Image reproduction from the special memory 12: FIG. 14)

The procedure starts when the special button SPC is pushed down in thestatus ST 0 (and through the step S14). A first step S164 reads the j-threcorded image from the special memory 12 to make a display on the imagedisplay device 18. A second step S166 tests the special button SPC. Ifthe operator's finger is removed from it, then put the value of theregister J, or the number of the last recorded image in the specialmemory 12, to the register j in a step S172, thus setting up the statusST 0. (Thereby it is made possible that at the re-start of the status ST10 from the status ST 0, the recorded image of the last number in thespecial memory 12 is presented to the image display device 18.)

If the special button SPC is determined in the step S166 to remainpushed down, then advance is to a step S168 for testing the down buttonDWN. If in depression, then advance is to the status ST 11 (for the downdisplay mode of the special memory 12). Otherwise, advance is to a stepS170.

The step S170 tests the up button UP. If in depression, then advance isto the status ST 12 (for the up display mode of the special memory 12).Otherwise, return is to the step S164.

ST 11 (Down display mode of the special memory 12: FIG. 15)

At the time of start, the j-th recorded image of the special memory 12is presented to the image display device 18 (step S174). Then, theregister j is decremented by one (step S176). During pushing down of thedown button DWN, at a time when 2 sec. passes from the start of thestatus ST 11, the image of the one less record number of the specialmemory 12 appears on the display (:S178→S180→S184→S186→S174. It shouldbe noted that the steps S180, S182, S184 and S186 are the same as thesteps S122 to S128 of the status ST 7). Then advance is to a step S176followed by a step S178. Therefore, so long as the down button DWN ispushed down, the recorded images of the special memory 12 appear in thedown mode on the display successively in periods of 0.5sec.(:S180→S182→S174). (Thus, rolling display takes place.)

If the down button DWN is released from the depression, then return tothe status ST 10 (:step S178.)

ST 12 (Up display mode of the special memory 12: FIG. 16)

Here, at the time of start, the j-th recorded image of the specialmemory 12 is presented to the image display device 18 (: step S190).Then the register j is incremented by one (: step S192). Then the upbutton UP is tested. The subsequent procedure is similar to that of thestatus ST 11. Therefore, so long as the up button UP is pushed down, therecorded images of the special memory 12 appear endlessly in the up modeon the display first in 2 sec. from the start and then in each period of0.5 sec. (: S194, 5196, S198, S200, 5202). If the up button UP isreleased from the depression, then return to the status ST 10 (: stepS194).

ST 13 (Still image display of an object image (moving image): FIG. 17)

The procedure starts from the depression of the recall button RCL in thestatus ST 1. A first step S210 reads the moving image from the memory 8to the image display device 18 and at the same time displays the valueof the frame counter FC on the counter display device 26. It should benoted that since the information of the moving image is stopped frombeing written in the moving image memory 8 at the time of start of thestatus ST 13, that image which has been stored in the moving imagememory 8 just before that start appears on the image display device 18.

Then the release of the recall button RCL from the depression isawaited. Then return is to the status ST 1.

ST 14 (Record object image in the special memory 12: FIG. 18)

The depression of the special button SPC in the status ST 1 leads to thestatus ST 14. If, here, the special button SPC is released, the stillimage in the moving image memory 8 is then read and recorded in thespecial memory 12.

That is, a first step S220 reads the image from the moving image memory8 to make a display on the image display device 18, (since, at the timeof start of the status ST 14, the moving image memory 8 stops fromwriting in). A second step S222 tests the up button UP. If indepression, then advance is to the status ST 5. Otherwise, advance is toa step S224, where the down button DWN is tested. If in depression, thenadvance is to the status ST 5. Otherwise, advance is to a step S226.

The step S226 waits for the release of the special button SPC from thedepression. In response to its release, a step S228 reads the recordcontent (still image) of the moving image memory 8 and records it in thej-th area of the special memory 12. (Since the advance from the statusST 1 to the status ST 14 occurs through the step S40 (j=j+1), becausethe j-th area of the special memory 12 is prepared for recording of anew still image, the image to be recorded is brought thereto.) Thenreturn is to the status ST 1.

ST 5 (Selection of image to be rewritten in the special memory 12: FIG.19)

Here, the user chooses a record number for the image desired to berewritten of the special memory 12.

The procedure starts when the up button UP or the down button DWN ispushed down in the status ST 14. As the number of times the depressionof the up button UP or the down button DWN has been repeated increases,the record number of the special memory 12 is increased or decreased.After the desired value of the record number for the image to berewritten has been sought out, the user removes his finger from thespecial button SPC, thus returning to the status ST 14. A first stepS230 reads the j-th recorded image of the special memory 12 and displaysit in blinking form on the image display device 18. Then advance is to astep S232.

The step S232 tests the up button UP. If in depression, a step S238 thenincrements the register j by one. Then, a step S240 waits for therelease of the up button UP from the depression. Then the flow passesthrough a step S230 to return to the step S232. Thereby, the recordnumber for the image desired to be rewritten of the special memory 12 isincreased by 1, and the corresponding image to the increased recordnumber appears in blinking form on the display. Therefore, by the numberof times the depression of the up button UP has been repeated, the imageof a higher record number of the special memory 12 than the starting onecan be displayed.

If, in the step S232, the up button UP is not pushed down, then advanceis to a step S234, where the down button DWN is tested. Subsequently,similar to the case of the up button UP, by the number of times thedepression of the down button DWN has been repeated (: S234, S242, S244,S230), the image of a lower record number than the starting one of thespecial memory 12 can be displayed in a blinking form.

If, in the step S234, the down button DWN is not pushed down, thenadvance is to a step S236, where the special button SPC is tested. If indepression, then return is to the step S230. Otherwise, return is to thestatus ST 14. (Then, in the status ST 14, if any of the buttons UP, DWNand SPC is not pushed down, the image of that record number which haslast appeared on the image display device 18 when in the status ST 5, isrewritten by the still image of the moving image memory 8.)

ST 15 (Record a still image of the recall memory 10 in the specialmemory 12: FIG. 20)

The procedure starts when the special button SPC is pushed down in thestatus ST 3. A first step S250 reads the i-th recorded image from therecall memory 10 to make a display on the image display device 18, andthen writes it in the j-th area of the special memory 12. A second stepS252 waits for the release of the special button SPC from thedepression. Then return to the status ST 3. Thereby the still imagerecorded in the recall memory 10 at the time of the camera release canbe saved for later special purposes in the special memory 12.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera comprising:(a) image pick-up means forobtaining moving image data; (b) first indicating means for manuallyindicating a still image capturing operation; (c) first storage meansfor storing still image data captured from the moving image data; (d)display means for displaying a moving image corresponding the movingimage data before said first storage, means stores the still image dataand for displaying a still image corresponding to the still image datastored in said first storage means after said first storage means storesthe still image data; (e) second indicating means for manuallyindicating a still image storing instruction; and (f) second storagemeans for storing the still image data stored in said first storagemeans in response to the still image storing instruction, wherein saidfirst storage means stores the still image data in response to the stillimage capturing instruction if the still image capturing instruction isprior to the still image storing instruction, and said first storagemeans stores the still image data in response to the still image storinginstruction if the still image storing instruction is prior to the stillimage capturing instruction.
 2. A camera according to claim 1, whereinsaid first indicating means includes a first manually operable key whichis arranged on a body of the camera and said second indicating meansincludes a second manually operable key which is arranged on the body ofthe camera separately to the first manually operable key.
 3. A cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein said first storage means has smallerstorage capacity than said second storage means.
 4. A camera accordingto claim 3, further comprising means for inhibiting said first storagemeans from writing the moving image data in response to the still imagecapturing operation.
 5. A camera comprising:(a) image pick-up means forobtaining moving image data; (b) first manually operable means; (c)first storage means for storing still image data captured from themoving image data; (d) display means for displaying a moving imagecorresponding the moving image data before the still image data isstored and said first storage means and for displaying a still imagecorresponding to the still image data stored in said first storage meansafter the still image data is stored in said first storage means; (e)second manually operable means; and (f) second storage means for storingthe still image data stored in said first storage means in response tothe operation of said second manually operable means, wherein said firststorage means stores the still image data in response to the operationof said first manually operable means if the operation of said firstmanually operable means is prior to the operation of said secondmanually operable means, and said first storage means stores the stillimage data in response to the operation of said second manually operablemeans if the operation of said second manually operable means is priorto the operation of said first manually operable means.
 6. A still imagestoring method, comprising steps of:(a) inputting moving image data; (b)displaying the moving image corresponding the moving image data; (c)storing still image data captured from the moving image data into afirst memory in response to a first manual operation if the first manualoperation is prior to a second manual operation; (d) storing still imagedata captured from the moving image data into the first memory inresponse to the second manual operation if the second manual operationis prior to the first manual operation; (e) displaying a still imagecorresponding to the still image data stored in the first memory; and(f) storing the still image data stored in the first memory into asecond memory in response to a second manual operation while displayingthe still image.
 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the first andsecond manual operations are executed by operating different keys.